Signature-stitching machine



M. CHRISTENSEN.

SIGNATURE STITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1920.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

' UNITED STATES PATENT orrlc a.

MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CHRISTENSEN MACHINE CO., OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

SIGNATURE-STITCHING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 10, 1920.

Application filed March 2, 1920. Serial No. 362,873.

, Stitching Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in signature stitching machines and refers more particularly to the means for presenting the signatures to be stitched 'to the stitching mechanism.

In stitching groups of signatures, it is desirable that the staples or stitches of the groups be staggered with relation to each other for convenience in stacking or piling the same. In the machines now in every day use, this staggering of the stitches or staples is accomplished by means of very complicated feeding mechanism provided with varying stroke lengths, and while this has accomplished the desired purpose, it is complicated and costly.

ith the above and other inherent objections in mind, my invention has for its primary object to provide extremely simple but efficient means for so feeding or presenting the signatures to be stitched to the stitching mechanism that the staples or stitches of the signatures will be staggered with relation to each other.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims, it'being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of a stitching machine conveyer andstitching mechanism illustrating the,

application of my invention. A

lg. 2 is a similar view illustrating the parts as being in different relative positlons, and

I Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a number of signatures in stack relation and having the staples or stitches thereof staggered.

As before stated, it is desirable in signature stitching machines that the staples or stitches of one signature be staggered with respect to the staple or stitch of the next signature. Heretofore it has been the practice to provide a plurality of signature engaging feed fingers 5 carried by a reclprocating feed bar 6 Which coact with the reciprocating feed bar (not shown) slidably mounted in the saddle 7.

The feed of the signatures to the stitchers 8 has been controlled by means of a rocking lever (not shown) having means for rocking same and varying every other stroke thereof. This structure, as before stated, while obtaining the desired result, is undesirable in that it requires numerous parts and greatly adds tothe expense of the machine.

In the present invention, I employ the usual feed mechanism, which may be of any desired construction without the variable stroke mechanism, and accomplish the desired result by timing the presentation of the signatures to be stitched to the feed mechanism. In obtaining this result, I space the signature pusher members 9 so that one signature will be disposed on the receiving end 10 of the saddle adjacent the discharge end of the conveyer belt 11 at the same time that the feed fingers 5 are depressed and begin their forward movement toward the stitches. With the stitching mechanism adjusted as depicted in the ac companying drawing the signature thus placed upon the receiving end 10 of the saddle 7 will be positioned as depicted at 12, with its rear edge in line with the side of the last stitcher 8, see Fig. 2.

The pusher member 9 far supplying the signature 13 to the feed mechanism is so spaced from the pusher member for the signature 12 that the signature 13 will be timed late with respect to the feed mechanism and be removed from the conveyer belt before the pusher member 9 has passed the discharge end of the belt. This causes the signature 13 to be positioned as depicted in Fig. 1 and consequently the staples therein will be staggered with respect to the staples of the preceding signature. ThlS step is repeated with the alternate signatures, and

- while I have illustrated every other signature as beingstitched in the same relative position, it will be understood that the sig natures may be delivered to the feed mechanisin so that only every third signature will be stitched in the same-corresponding position.

From the fore oing description taken in connection with t e accompanying drawing,

I it will be atonce apparent to those skilled in the art to which an inventionof this character appertains that I have provided an. extremely simple but eflicient means for providing the stitching ofthe signatures in staggered relation without the necessity of the complicated machinery now in every -da use.

y providin series of openings in the belt to permit t e pushers9 to be selectively arranged to either regularly or irregularly deliver the signatures, the machine may be readily adapted tobe used to place the stitches in the signatures in substantially the same position, or else to place the stitches thereln in staggered relation. What I claim as my invent1on is:

1. In a signature stitching machine, they ing the signatures in succession to the feeding mechanism alternately late and early whereby the stitches of alternate signatures will be in staggered relation.

3. In a signature stitching machine, the combination with a stitcher, a signature conveyer and feeding mechanism timed and cooperating with the conveyer to present the signatures to be stitched to the stitcher, of

.variably spaced pusher members carried by the conveyer whereby thesignature will be presented to the feed mechanism alternately late and early.

In testimony whereof I afiix m si nature.

MARTIN CHRIS E SEN.

mechanism for presentin signatures in succession to the stitcher, 0 means for convey- 

